We specialize in commercial joinery, retail fit outs, custom built office furniture and kitchens. The finnish company artek was founded in 1935 by alvar and aino. Alvar aalto midcentury modernism style antiques for sale. Creating a modern world was curated by bard graduate center gallery director nina stritzlerlevine, a recognized scholar of modern architecture and design, and juhani pallasmaa, a prolific writer on modern and contemporary art and architecture, and an architect and professor. Artek history artek was founded in 1935 by four young finns led by the visionary modern architect alvar aalto. It presents the achievements of western furniture designers, not in isolation from the. S upreme, the new york citybased skateboard brand, has released an edition of artek furniture, featuring the finnish brands iconic stool 60 and the lesser known bench 153a, both designed by alvar aalto. Festivals and chess olympiads historical places 2000 lets change the world for the better festival 2014 artek goes global. To purchase products, please see your nearest artek flagship store or artek distribution partner. Apart from sharing exhibition spaces, aaltos wood reliefs and furniture were further connected through two important companies.
This abyssinian type cat that honored the goddess bastet is cast in bonded bronze with goldplated metal earrings and is. Boasting a catalog of gracefully innovative modern furniture designs defined by durability, sustainability, and material warmth, the artek collection of modern chairs, tables, storage pieces and lighting models has become synonymous with the humanistic brand of modernism to which alvar aalto was committed. Old and new, the chairs and stools were all made by the finnish furniture company artek from original designs by its cofounder, the. In 1935, alvar and aino aalto, maire gullichsen and nilsgustav hahl teamed up to promote a modern culture of habitation by exhibitions and other educational means. Our expert team are reliable, professional and deliver service on time, every time. Creating a modern world, a landmark exhibition at the bard graduate center gallery, is a dizzying, sometimes slightly daunting array of objects, furnishings, drawings. The first part offers a summary of what might be referred to as the official history of the artek company. See more ideas about design, tobias rehberger and alvar aalto. Shop authentic artek furniture and other artek furniture from the worlds best dealers. The founders chose a nonfinnish name, the neologism artek was meant to. Artek was founded in 1935 by four young idealists alvar and aino aalto, nilsgustav hahl and maire gullichsen published a design manifesto inspired by functionalism, stating that arteks aim was to sell furniture and to promote modern culture of habitation by exhibitions and other means.
This abyssinian type cat that honored the goddess bastet is cast in bonded bronze with goldplated metal earrings and is mounted to a black wood base. It was founded in december 1935 by architect alvar aalto. Sep 24, 20 yet the artek journey started with aaltos paimio chair. It was a lasting relationship, and aalto would entrust korhonen with the execution of all his subsequent designs. The founders of artek advocated a new kind of environment for everyday life. Artek is looking back to a history of more than 80 years. Arteks comprehensive furnishing system can be used in all kinds of situations from public spaces to offices. Faraway in space and friendship with yury gagarin 1970 the 1970s. Fully indexed appendices present new scholarship, including an inventory of the artek product line furniture, textiles, and glass. Supremes collaborations with other brands, both famousnike, north face, levisand obscure, have helped foster the. Artek s comprehensive furnishing system can be used in all kinds of situations from public spaces to offices. Originally designed for installation at the 2007 salone internazionale del mobile in milan for the finnish furniture company artek. Jun 1, 2018 building on the heritage of famous finnish designer alvar aalto, artek is renowned as one of the most revolutionary names in modern design.
The business strategy of the company was to sell furniture and to promote a modern culture of living by exhibitions and other educational means. One of the many lasting legacies of the great finnish architect and designer alvar aalto, artek modern furniture and lighting has been a respected and enduring presence on the modern design landscape since 1935. Aalto was featured in the 50 mk note in the last series of the finnish markka before its replacement by the euro in 2002. Although carving and inlays were used, furniture was not overdecorated. Artek furniture in 1935, alvar aalto and his wife aino founded the finnish company artek to manufacture their interior designs. The first englishlanguage survey to focus on the finnish modernist design company artek and its founders, alvar and aino aalto the finnish design firm artek is best known as the producer and distributor of modernist bentwood furniture designed by alvar aalto 18981976. He never regarded himself as an artist, seeing painting and sculpture as branches of the tree whose trunk is architecture.
The design of his furniture combined practicality and aesthetics with series production, following the main artek idea of encouraging a more beautiful everyday life in the home. The artek collection consists of furniture, lighting, and accessories designed by finnish masters and leading international designers. Supremes collaborations with other brands, both famousnike, north face, levisand obscure, have helped foster the companys identity as both mainstream and edgy. Best known for their minimal, modern furniture, each piece is of the utmost quality, made under the motto buy now, keep forever. Today artek is renowned as being one of the most innovative contributors to modern design, creating new paths at the intersection of design, architecture and art. Artek furniture has been providing discerning customers the ultimate in custom joinery, fit out design and fine craftsmanship for over 35 years.
Artek furniture finnish furniture by alvar aalto and artek. Vintage sculptural replica of an ancient egyptian cat sculpture from 600 bc exhibited at the boston museum of fine arts, made by artek in the 1960s70s. Moreover, it is the writer and art historian pekka suhonen. It was founded in december 1935 by architect alvar aalto and his wife aino aalto, visual arts promoter maire gullichsen and art historian nilsgustav hahl. Longterm durability and high quality, combined with a cleanlined form language are the essential elements in every piece of artek furniture. The greek history of furniture can be traced back to the heritage of egyptian furniture, evolving into softer lines, subtle and elegant curves, and more attention was given to comfort.
Furniture is also used to hold objects at a convenient height for work as horizontal surfaces above the ground, such as tables and desks, or to store things e. We provide the customer the ultimate in custom joinery, french polishing and installation. The creative hub of the company is artek studio, the unit where new. A fictional meeting between finnish architect alvar aalto and american ceramicist edith heath formed the basis of a. Alvar aalto stool for artek, circa 1960 for sale at 1stdibs. Today, artek remains faithful to the aaltos basic values as their master craftspeople continue to produce aalto designs in finland with high quality natural materials. Artek 2nd cycle keskittyy vintagetuotteiden myyntiin. It stands for clarity, functionality, and poetic simplicity.
And the pirkka collection showcases artek s soft approach to contemporary furniture. The informal warmth of aaltos interiors is best seen in the muchadmired country home villa mairea, which he built for the gullichsens near noormarkku, fin. Artek furniture enjoys a reputation for the highest standards of workmanship, flexibility and customer service. This book is the first englishlanguage publication on the topic, as well as the most comprehensive, with chapters authored by leading scholars of design history and architecture. The small furniture pieces, lighting and textiles in the abc collection were designed by aalto, who cofounded artek in 1935, and have been added to. Its available in a variety of variations and colors too, making it easy to find a home anywhere in yours. Alvar aalto furniture is a softcover book edited by juhani pallasmaa and. As one of the most noteworthy stools in modern design, alvar aaltos 1933 stool 60 is reintroduced by artek and is a goto choice for an iconic piece. Untitled kiss 2019 is the starting point of a new collaboration between artek and.
Artek and institute of contemporary arts present artists edition by barbara kruger 9192019. Stritzlerlevine wondered, why hasnt someone done a major book on artek before. A 72yearold furniture company is sustainable to its roots. Jan 23, 2015 the small furniture pieces, lighting and textiles in the abc collection were designed by aalto, who cofounded artek in 1935, and have been added to the brands range to complement its existing. Creating a modern world stritzlerlevine, nina on amazon. His work includes architecture, furniture, textiles and glassware, as well as sculptures and paintings. In artek and the aaltos, caution sleek, modernist curves. First, through their shared place of origin and production at the manufacturer huonekaluja rakennustyotehdas oy in turku, finland. Since 20, artek has been part of the swiss furniture company vitra.
Artek and heath present limitededition tiled furniture in 1960s setting. Artek and the aaltos showcases more than three hundred objects, including furniture, glassware. Creating a modern world was the first exhibition in the united states to examine artek, a pioneering finnish design company founded in 1935, and the first to have a specific focus on the two architect cofounders, alvar aalto 18981976 and aino marsioaalto 18941949. See more ideas about artek, alvar aalto, modern furniture. The artek brand is renowned as one of the most innovative contributors to modern design. They wanted to change the way the public viewed modern design by incorporating their. The founders chose a nonfinnish name, the neologism artek was meant to manifest the desire to combine art and technology. Boasting a catalog of gracefully innovative modern furniture designs defined by durability, sustainability, and material warmth, the. Alvar aalto is the eponym of the alvar aalto medal, now considered by whom. Midcentury modernisms unsung power couple fast company. Today, artek is mostly known for its bentwood furniture, but in the past, it was a fervent. Artek has joined forces with londons institute of contemporary arts, ica, to produce an artists edition by barbara kruger. Fully indexed appendices present new scholarship, including an inventory of the artek product line furniture, textiles, and glass, and a list of public and private commissions.
For press or sales inquiries, please contact one of our offices. May 07, 2020 in 1935 the artek company was established by aalto and maire gullichsen, the wife of the industrialist and art collector harry gullichsen, to manufacture and market his furniture. Yet the artek journey started with aaltos paimio chair. Study of alvar aaltos wood reliefs for furniture and. The 604page, fourcolor hardcover book was published by fairchild books, a division of conde nast publications, in 2009. The catalogue offers an indepth survey of the legendary finnish design company artek, and its founders, alvar aalto 18981975 and aino marsio aalto 18941949. Artek company last updated july 19, 2019 artek logo artek is a finnish furniture company. His first modern furniture was created in 1932 for the tuberculosis sanatorium in paimio, which proved to be his. Artek revives alvar aalto products for latest furniture.
Furniture refers to movable objects intended to support various human activities such as seating e. Created primarily out of recycled selfadhesive labels. In addition, this book examines the aaltos advocacy for the use of. Artek was founded in 1935 by four young idealists, alvar aalto and his wife aino, maire gullichsen and nilsgustav hahl. With his simple yet curvilinear furniture, the 20thcentury finnish architect and designer alvar aalto famously changed the course of design history, giving modernism a gentler, more human face. This book is the first englishlanguage publication on the topic, as well as the most comprehensive, with chapters authored by leading scholars of design history and. In 1927, while working with otto korhonen the manager of a furniture factory near turku aalto became fascinated with the possibilities of laminating and bending plywood.
In 1935 the artek company was established by aalto and maire gullichsen, the wife of the industrialist and art collector harry gullichsen, to manufacture and market his furniture. Perfect for keeping books in a little reading nook. A global view covers the major historical movements in furniture design from prehistoric periods through contemporary times and includes parts of the world that traditional history books ignore or underserve, such as africa and china. Greek furniture styles were simple, elegant and tasteful. Creating a modern world is a stunningly comprehensive and beautiful catalogue for an exhibition that was held at the bard graduate center, new york, in 2016.
Buy artek design lamps and furniture from alvar and aino aalto online at connox. Alvar and aino aalto, maire gullichsen, and nilsgustav hahl. Alvar aalto began designing furnishings as a natural and important extension of his architectural thinking. Oct 21, 2007 a 72yearold furniture company is sustainable to its roots. Less well known, however, is the fact that via artek, the homeware company he cofounded in 1935, aalto was also a pioneer of sustainability. The artek collection includes karuselli lounge chair, pirkka furniture range, alvar aalto. In 1935, artek was founded by alvar aalto and his wife aino aalto to promote the growing production and sales of aalto furniture. Supreme, the new york citybased skateboard brand, has released an edition of artek furniture, featuring the finnish brands iconic stool 60 and the lesser known bench 153a, both designed by alvar aalto. Artek is a finnish furniture company, founded in 1935 by architect alvar aalto, as a synthesis of art and technology on modernist principles.